What should I note before seeking treatment advice for heavy metals in my water?
Understanding the difference between general area water data and your home's specific water quality is important. The government has sampled groundwater from 41 wells in El Paso County’s aquifer 111ALVM, ranging from 25 to 215 feet deep, collecting 114 selenium measurements from 2018 to 2025. These results provide a regional picture but do not represent your well’s unique condition. Before consulting about treatment, write down your water source type, well depth if available, and any existing water tests you have, especially tests from a certified laboratory that specify heavy metals like selenium.
What does a certified laboratory test report for selenium show, and how should I understand it?
A certified lab test for selenium will report the concentration in micrograms per liter (μg/L), similar to the government’s sampling units. In El Paso County’s aquifer 111ALVM, selenium was detected in most samples with a median of 3.1 μg/L and a range from 0.15 to 12.6 μg/L. Importantly, none of these results exceeded federal health-based thresholds. A lab test for your water will similarly list a quantified concentration. Comparing your result to regional data helps understand where it fits in the local spectrum; however, only your test indicates your actual water condition, not the area statistics.
How does water quality change at the tap after using a Fleck Heavy Metals Filter?
The Fleck Heavy Metals Filter is designed to reduce heavy metals including selenium in household water. After configuring this filtration system, you can expect a significant reduction in the concentration of targeted heavy metals due to its proprietary filtration media and control system that operates on well-established principles. This results in improved water quality at the tap, which may affect taste, aesthetics, and potential long-term exposure. The system ships ready to configure for residential use, providing a practical option for households monitoring heavy metals in their water.
How does sample depth, well depth, or source type affect what I should expect in heavy metals presence?
The government samples in El Paso County’s aquifer 111ALVM covered wells from 25 to 215 feet deep, a broad range capturing variability in selenium levels. Depth matters because different layers of an aquifer can have differing mineral content. Shallow wells might show different heavy metals profiles than deeper ones. Additionally, well construction, source type, and local geology influence what your water contains. Since the sampling data spans many depths and wells, your water could be higher or lower in selenium than the median regional values, highlighting the need for your specific water testing.
What household symptoms can indicate heavy metals contamination, and which do not?
Heavy metals, including selenium, typically do not cause immediate visible symptoms in water such as discoloration or odor, so unusual taste or staining can sometimes be indirect signs. However, such symptoms could also stem from other water issues unrelated to heavy metals. Health symptoms related to heavy metals exposure develop over long-term consumption and are not visible at the tap. Therefore, household symptoms alone are not reliable indicators of heavy metals presence; proper water analysis is essential to identify their levels accurately.
In summary, government sampling in El Paso County's aquifer 111ALVM offers useful regional selenium data but not a profile of your well’s water. Understanding your certified lab test results and considering well depth and water source type are key to evaluating heavy metals risk. When warranted, the Fleck Heavy Metals Filter provides a ready-to-configure solution to improve residential water quality by reducing heavy metals.
Where this information comes from
Source: USGS groundwater sampling. Sampled 2025-12-18. These figures describe groundwater sampled in this area. They are not a test of any individual private well - only a test of that well can establish its own water.
On record: U.S. Geological Survey sampling of Selenium in the 111ALVM aquifer (El Paso County): 114 results from 41 wells, median 3.1 ug/L, range 0.15-12.6 ug/L; none above any federal threshold